Myth #1 – Social Media is Not Genuine Marketing
If you’re still under the impression that social media is just a passing trend destined to disappear, it’s time for a reality check – and don’t hold your breath waiting for it to vanish.
While it’s true that various social media platforms have had their time in the limelight, with platforms like MySpace and Friendster now existing as distant memories or attempting reinvention, the essence of social media usage persists. Today’s prominent platforms for small businesses include LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and potentially Google+ in the near future.
Even if the current social media giants fade away, the underlying behavior of engaging in social media is here to stay.
The 2012 Local Search Study reveals a significant 67 percent increase in people using social media to seek local business information. Currently, 15% rely on social media for local business details. While this percentage might not sound substantial at first, consider its impact. If, within a 50-mile radius of your business, there are 100,000 potential customers, and 15% of them turn to platforms like Twitter or Facebook, that amounts to a noteworthy 15,000 individuals – far from an inconsequential figure.
